Bin stopped going up and down
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I assume the motor is running.
If so, a well used 497 coal loader will start having problems with the bin going up and down due to the uprights wearing grooves into the plastic guides that align the bin with the studs.
It's been a while. The last time I saw this problem, I cut small rings out of brass tubing, and covered the worn plastic studs.
If you have the same problem and you can find a new bin, I'd replace it.
My problem when that has happened to mine has always been a broken or stretched belt. Not easy to get at, but serviceable. If that's your problem, clean out the old dried grease and grease it while you're in there. Just make sure you don't get any on the belt. I've used elastic bands of the correct size with pretty good results in the past too.
Thank you C.W.Burfle and Train Nut. It will have to be removed from my layout and bench worked. I was hoping for the "magic pill" that I could leave it in place. Thanks for the quick responses. Eddie
To clarify my post: I was thinking about the postwar Lionel 497 with a universal motor. I guess the modern era versions could develop the same problem.
